KOTA KINABALU: The three East Ocean 2 crewmen held by Abu Sayyaf-linked gunmen in the Tawi Tawi area are believed to be safe following an encounter between the Philippines navy and unidentified armed bandits close to Sabah waters.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Illiyas Ibrahim said that he believed that the three, being held in a jungle hideout on one of the Tawi Tawi group of islands, were unharmed in Tuesdays shooting incident in which three armed men and seven suspects were arrested.